Imagination Roots in the Woods and Mission-Driven Storytelling
Sam’s origin story isn’t about hitting the big city figurelines or chasing trends. It’s rooted in West Virginia dirt, woods, and a lifelong habit of turning play into story. He describes growing up in Wayne County, where the woods, creeks, and mountains fed a bursting imagination—long before he even realized writing could be a vocation. And when he talks about faith, he emphasizes that storytelling for him is not just entertainment; it’s a way to point people toward deeper realities, justice, and meaning. It’s a faith-driven, reality-grounded approach to art, where “the best stories are not an escape from reality—they’re an escape into reality.”
“I want to tell stories that point people to the reality of how God made the world, which is magic.”
From Porch Tales to Green Ember: A Family-Driven Origin and a Kickstarter Launch
“We called it the rabbits at Jupiter’s Crossing. And one day they said, ‘Daddy, you know, you got to write this down.'”
The spark for Green Ember came from simple, intimate moments—the kind you tell on a porch swing, during bedtime, or on a family walk. Sam would cadence a story about an older sister rabbit and a younger brother, and his kids kept urging him to write it down. That story, born from those everyday moments, grew into a book that launched via Kickstarter. The first campaign raised more than the initial goal, and the project blossomed into a broader venture, including future books, a board game, and a new video game concept. He emphasizes that the Kickstarter was less about raising money and more about inviting fans into the journey and sharing the story with a wider audience.
West Virginia Heart, Global Dreams: Building a Small-Team Empire with Big Ambitions
“We’re a little rag tag southern West Virginia hillbilly garage team.”
Sam’s venture isn’t about fleeing home to chase bigger markets; it’s about staying rooted in West Virginia while thinking big. He and his brothers built a small, collaborative operation—friends, family, and a few other passionate teammates—who wear many hats and keep the flame alive with a “guerilla” mindset. The team’s ethos centers on hospitality, generosity, and a relentless commitment to quality. They’re competing with major publishers and studios, but they’re happy to stay local and tell authentic Appalachia-forward stories that resonate far beyond their mountains. The Green Ember universe isn’t just a set of books; it’s a platform for cross-media storytelling—books, a board game, and now a video game—that invites kids and families into a world where wonder and responsibility go hand in hand.
Want the full story behind these adventures and the latest on the Green Ember game? Tune into the full episode for Sam’s candid anecdotes, the West Virginia passion, and the remarkable path from porch storytelling to a multi-faceted creative venture.
